All Eyes on Israel
Chapter 1 - What is Your Name?
Page 5 - The Heel Grabber
(Go Back to Page 4 - The Meaning of Jacob)

The "heel grabber" was another term that described Jacob. If you think of this and try to get the meaning you might think of someone who is running and you're chasing them trying to grab them by the heel. You would do it from behind. You impede their progress by doing it. Also, if you grab a person hard or if pressure is applied to the body quickly or with great pressure what can result? - a bruise. I think we can relate "grabbing the heel" to something else the Bible says about a heel:

"And I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed [Jesus]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou [Satan] shalt bruise his heel." (Gen 3:15)

"Bruising the heel" or "grabbing by the heel" could be related. It is an attempt to interfere with another, to impede their progress or purpose, perhaps to catch up with them, ultimately perhaps to take their place or supplant. This is certainly what Satan has tried to do to Christ. Is it something we try to do either to others or to Christ when we don't submit to His will? When we don't serve Him as we should?

Of course, it is related to the circumstance of Jacob's birth. Jacob was the second to be born after his twin brother Esau.

"And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them." (Gen 25:26)

Because of Jacob's grabbing his brother's heel, he received his name and until his character was changed he lived up to the role his action suggested.

It is interesting that, from 1999 through 2010, Jacob has been the most popular baby name for boys in the United States. Is there perhaps a few among them with the character traits of the heel grabber?